We had to get out of the house. Matt is a good influence on me and said we needed to go ride these bikes before we did a photo shoot. So we rode from my house and cruised around the SS.

The plan for today was revolving around a photo shoot for the magazine- Matt doing the pictures and I writing the article. We picked me up a bike from the local shop (since mine was in the shop). So we did our little morning ride, then headed to the Lunch Loop for the shoot.

The kids were super good- riding their bikes around and playing together while we got the shots. Afterward we hung out in the parking lot and visited with friends, getting sound bites for the article and generally having a good time.

I considered it the first time I’ve been able to hang out with a bunch of friends since my divorce was final- so I partied a little too hard and Sarah ended up driving me home. It was pretty funny to me, actually!

By the way, Matt is awesome. I’ll be excited to be able to share with everyone when he has another photo on the cover of the Grand Valley Magazine. I’m so proud of him.

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“The road must be trod, but it will be very hard. And neither strength nor wisdom will carry us far upon it. This quest may be attempted by the weak with as much hope as the strong. Yet it is oft the course of deeds that move the wheels of the world: Small hands do them because they must, while the eyes of the great are elsewhere.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

I’ve been smiling a lot this week. Maybe it’s a more hopeful, positive out look that I’ve developed. Maybe it’s being engaged with a new job, a new role, feeling like I can make a difference. Maybe it’s trail project things that I’ve been working on and the pieces are starting to come together…. maybe it’s being able to spend time with new friends and old ones, too.

Dave and I haven’t seen much of each other the last few months. It’s been pretty exclusive to meetings about Epic Rides or the GVTA. Today I insisted that if it was just the two of us negotiating, couldn’t we do it whilst partaking of riding bicycles?

So we took turns sharing life updates and talking about the Grand, and what my role might be this year. But mostly, we played bikes. I crashed a little (I’m going to blame it on my rear shock being low), and hurt some parts of me, but nothing too serious. Totally worth being out in the sunshine, riding with my colleague, adviser, and friend.

I woke with the sun this morning and went for a solo run out at the Lunch Loop. Ever since riding Sarlacc I’ve been a little neglectful of my health. Also, I think I’m still waiting for inspiration for what to do next year.

I ran in the area of the Three Sisters and took the hike-only Hilltop trail. It was difficult to follow and find- I’m fairly certain that aside from the people who built it, I’m the only one who knows that it’s there. It’s a tricky little rock staircase. A short cut, but a long delay.

It’s nice to be reminded why I am a morning person. I relish the sunrise.